Leading sun creams failing to protect from UV

When you slather yourself in sun cream, you hope that it is protecting you from that flaming great orb in the sky. However, it looks like some of them don't.

Feel free to add your own 'don't get burned by sun creams' joke at any point during this article.

According to the folks at Which!!!, two leading sun creams don't provide the UV protection that they say they do. If you've been smearing yourself in Boots Soltan Protect & Moisturise Lotion SPF30 and Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Lotion SPF30, then you might want to consider another product.

The watchdog says that both of these offered only about two-thirds of their claimed SPF and are now referring to these products as "don’t buys", adding that the Silk Hydration Lotion was "worryingly" the second Hawaiian Tropic product to fail their tests in the past two years.

Not only that, it is "more than four times as expensive as some of our Best Buys".

Last year, Piz Buin Ultra Light Dry Touch failed the tests undertaken by Which!!! and apparently, the old formula is still available to buy now, where the others that didn't pass the UV tests last year, have since been reformulated.

Which!!! executive director Richard Lloyd said: "We’re very concerned that a further two popular sunscreens have now failed our tests. Consumers must be able to trust and rely on the information provided by manufacturers so it’s disappointing to see well-known brands falling short."

"We want them to take action to ensure their products deliver the promised protection."

Hawaiian Tropic defended itself, saying that all their products are rigorously tested, meeting all SPF, UVA and EU requirements and regulations. A spokesperson said: "Hawaiian Tropic invests considerable resources and research in product development and testing to ensure consumer safety, and guarantees the SPF and UVA claim on all products."

"Consumers can fully rely on Hawaiian Tropic products, safe in the knowledge they are protected against the sun to the level they want, need and expect."

A Boots UK spokesperson, also said: "Customer safety is paramount and we rigorously and independently test our products to ensure the appropriate level of safety and efficacy in compliance with EU Regulations. We are confident that all of our sun care products, including Boots Soltan Protect & Moisturise Lotion SPF30, meet the SPF labelling claim and customers can rely on them to provide the level of protection expected."

"We believe that it’s better to use sunscreen that will offer some protection rather than none at all,” said Lisa Bickerstaffe of the British Skin Foundation, adding that customers could also “look for a four- or ideally five-star UVA rating on the bottle which will help protect from UVA radiation, associated with skin ageing."